Nights Made for Two

Ten ways to celebrate the holiday with your loved one.

1. Spend a few hours cooking a three-course meal at Miette Culinary Studio (109 MacDougal St., Ste. 2, nr. Bleecker St.; 212-460-9322), where the Valentine's Day Food & Wine class ($150 per person, 6:30–9:30 p.m.) will teach you how to make crab cakes, shrimp risotto, and chocolate cake with homemade vanilla ice cream. A sommelier will be on hand to pour three wines with the meal, but if you're in need of a nightcap afterwards, walk a couple of blocks to Hundred Acres for a seasonally inspired cocktail.

2. Satisfy your sweet tooth at City Winery's sparkling wine and chocolate pairing ($75 per person, 7 p.m.), led by experts from Murray's Cheesemongers. Next, pick up a bottle of wine or two for dinner around the corner at the intimate BYOB bistro La Sirène, which serves French classics and has no corkage fee.

3. Splurge on an all-inclusive Valentine's package ($639) at the Nolitan (30 Kenmare St., at Elizabeth St.; 212-925-2555), which includes a corner room with views of the skyline and a soaking tub for two. Your stay comes with an in-house dinner at Ellabess, a bottle of rosé Champagne, miniature massage candles, and a romantic movie to view in your room.

4. Watch a series of cinematic takes on love and relationships at Anthology Film Archives, which is featuring two programs of shorts (first at 6 p.m., second at 7:15 p.m.) shot by new filmmakers. Then take a short walk to discuss your favorites over Sara Jenkins's celebrated pastas (try the anneloni with spicy, crumbled lamb sausage) at Porsena.

5. Grab a quick, cheap bite at Luke's Lobster ($20 for a lobster roll with beer, chips, and a pickle) and then head over to the 92nd Street Y for a love-themed edition of Celebrity Autobiography ($24.65, 8:15 p.m.). Guests including Dick Cavett, Judy Gold, and Jackie Hoffman will be reading unbelievable but true excerpts from love letters and poems written by Hollywood stars.

7. Be happy you're with that special someone as you laugh at the ups and downs of relationships at SMITH magazine's
Six-Word Story Show on Love and Heartbreak ($10 in advance, 7 p.m.) at 92YTribeca. At the end, take part in the "six-word slam," when members of the audience can share a few choice words on love. Afterwards, walk down to Landmarc to recall highlights from your own relationship over steak and pasta.

9. Tickle your funny bone at Carolines on Broadway for "My Funny Valentine" ($38.25, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.), an evening of stand-up comedy dedicated to the lighter aspects of Valentine's Day. Then escape the confines of Times Square by walking over to Hell's Kitchen for a candlelit dinner of osso buco and Italian wines at Bocca di Bacco.

10. Fill up on absinthe cocktails and $1 oysters at Maison Premiere during the restaurant's oyster happy hour (4–7 p.m.). Then jump in a cab to Brooklyn Bowl and eschew your gooey feelings about love during the LOVE BITES! Power Ballad Tribute Show ($5 in advance, 8 p.m.), featuring eighties rock anthems for the unlucky-in-love. Stick around afterwards for boozy shakes and snacks, or a game of bowling on one of sixteen lanes.